Tips for Conducting an Orchestra : Common Time Signatures for Symphony Orchestras

Overview of basic time signatures for an orchestra. Learn more about keeping time for an orchestra in this free conducting lesson from an experienced conductor and composer.

Expert: Lennon Leppert
Bio: Lennon Leppert is a film composer and songwriter. He has worked on projects produced by The Discovery Channel, The History Channel and The Learning Channel.
Filmmaker: Lennon Leppert

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• classical
• music
• orchestra
• conducting
• conductor
• symphony
• opera
• ballet
• free
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[onfiremusicman]

@karnak472 Many thanks, I'll make sure to check it out.

[karnak472]

@onfiremusicman I would recommend "Vertical Plane Focal Point Conducting" by Atherton, also out of print. This concept utilizes more of the wrist and enables you to give a clearer ictus on the up beat as well as the down beat. Very economical approach.

[kenalebla]

@chackyjazz You mean people should know what their talking about before posting a video series about conducting on YouTube! But history and theory are so boring, I don't want to study...

[kenalebla]

4/4 is called "common time," however, the big "C" is NOT a letter. It's a half-circle, which is a symbol. It doesn't even refer to the fact that 4/4 is common, but that it is not perfect time - in fact it can also be correctly called "imperfect time."

This terminology has historical precedence and is derived from 14th century music. During this time; 3/4, represented by a circle, was referred to as "perfect time." Groups of threes perfect.... trinity... the church and music... You get the idea.

[Kliwadenko]

where can i find true conducting tutorials ?

[kranxta]

@chackyjazz yes it is

[onfiremusicman]

This is a nice basic video for anyone starting off, but he fails to focus closely enough on the "ictus". Thankfully, he is employing it, but he needs to make it clear that conducting does not involve merely moving your hand "Down, right, left", etc. The purpose of the "ictus", i.e. bouncing back from the beat, is to make the beat very clear – it makes it clear where the bottom of the conducting frame is. I highly recommend a book which is now out of print called the Complete Conductor.

[chackyjazz]

The "C" used for 4/4 is not for "common time"..... you need a little more of history, dont you think so??

[iohannesjavier]

@MilknCookies414 it depends on the tempo of the piece. .

if the tempo is fast, it is appropriate to use the 2/4 pattern but if the tempo is slow, better to use the original in 6 pattern.

[LOTRzagorath]

@JohnThePetru Yes, it does depend on the tempo, but it is far more common for 6/8 to be played fairly fast, and therefore the most common way to conduct it is in two.